Govt suspends seven lands ministry officials

The government has suspended seven Lands, Housing and Human Settlements ministry officials over failure to develop towns and letting developers to construct residential houses in squatter areas.

This was said in Parliament here yesterday during the question and answer session by the ministry’s Deputy Minister Goodluck ole Medeye when responding to a question by Felister Bura (Special Seats, CCM) who had wanted the government to explain measures being taken to address challenges facing development of towns.

He said the work performance of many government workers is guided by policies, laws and regulations, threatening stern measures against employees found violating stipulated laws.

Ole Medeye said the government had been taking actions against town planners proved to under perform and those violating labour laws, rules and regulations.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Minister said the government had been taking measures against leaders in various government departments proved to collaborate with town planners to allow land invaders in open spaces.

He said between 2009 and 2012 a total of seven land officials were suspended and eight others were still being investigated.

In a move aimed at improving town planning, the government has enacted a law to guide their profession, which Act number 7 of 2007, which provides for stiffer penalties against culprits.

He said according to the town planning law, any one intending to construct a house in urban areas must obtain the permit from a town council where he or she lives.

“Anyone who will construct a house without having valid documents or using fake ones being issued by untrustworthy employees will be committing a mistake,” he said.

Ole Medeye explained that demolishing a house of someone who has violated urban building laws, rules, regulations and procedures wasn’t a mistake or problem, but “is implementing policies and laws of the land”.

He said before any demolition exercise, particularly for houses built in open spaces and road reserves, usually a notice is issued to owners requesting them to relocate on their own before they are removed by force.